Sheer Khurma is a customary dessert prepared in Muslim households on the eve of Eid-al-fitr, which marks the end of pious and religious month of Ramadan.
Ramadan has a great religious significance in Islam. It’s a month of fasting and prayers for followers of Islam and it’s also a time for them to come together with friends and family to break their fast and celebrate their togetherness by feasting together.
Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic Lunar Calendar which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian Calendar. This explains why date on which Ramadan falls may vary every year. Month of Ramadan is one of the “five pillars of Islam”. It’s believed that Koran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the final 10 nights of Ramadan. During this month able-bodied Muslims fast from period of dawn to dusk but Children, physically ill, mentally ill, pregnant ladies are exempt from fasting. Abstinence is an important part of this fast. By abstaining from food, water, alcohol, smoking and sex Muslims aim to achieve purity of thoughts and actions. The holiday of Eid-al-fitr “festival of the breaking of the fast” marks end of month of Ramadan and start of a new month.
Food is an essential part of our festivities. Every festival that is a part of Indian cultural landscape is incomplete without its customary food preparation. This theory holds true for Eid too, which is unimaginable without a warm bowl of sweet Sheer Khurma. Sheer Korma has a Persian Origin which literally translates to “Milk with Dates”- (Sheer-Milk, Khurma-Dates).
One of the most beautiful one-line description of Sheer Khurma, that I have come across in recent times was in a write-up authored by Bisma Tirmizi in Dawn.com, where she describes Sheer Khurma as “warm as a mother’s embrace and sweet as her love”.
How and when Vermicelli or Seviyan became part of this dessert is anybody’s guess. This special dish is served on the morning of Eid after the Eid prayers as a breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests. Adding dates to Sheer Khurma has a lot of nutritional benefits. Dates are rich in vitamins, minerals, energy, sugar and fiber and acts as an instant energy source for those fasting.
Today, on the eve of Eid-al-fitr, make this rich Delicacy-Sheer Khurma. Serve a warm bowl of Sheer Khurma to your friends and family and enjoy this festival with a feeling of togetherness.
Rating
Serves: 5-6
- 1 Liter Full Fat Milk
- ¼th Cup=60gms Sugar
- 30gms thin Seviyan (Vermicelli)
- Ghee
- 10 Almonds-soaked overnight
- 6 Dry Dates-soaked overnight
- 10-12 Cashew Nuts-soaked overnight
- 1 tbsp Pistachios-unsalted, soaked overnight
- 1 tbsp Charoli/Chironji
- 1 tbsp Raisins
- 2 tbsp dry Coconut-thinly sliced
- 1 tsp Cardamom Powder-coarsely crushed
- 1 tbsp Kewra Water/Screw Pine Water
- Few Saffron Strands
- In a large and heavy bottom vessel, boil Milk. As Milk begins to boil, give it a stir. Simmer on low heat and stir intermittently.
- Meanwhile, we will fry Nuts in Ghee. Add 1 tbsp Ghee in a Pan. Add Almonds, Cashew Nuts, Pistachios, Dry dates-sliced into lengths. Ensure you remove skins off Almonds and Pistachios before slicing. Add Charoli and dry Coconuts. Add 1-2 tbsp Ghee. We are not frying Raisins now. We will fry it separately.
- Fry all the ingredients. We have been frying for 3 mins. Remove from the Pan
- Add 1 tsp Ghee. Add Raisins and fry. As raisins become puffed remove it from the Pan
- Now, we will roast seviyan, add 1 tbsp Ghee in the pan. We are using thin seviyan for Sheer Khurma. You must ensure that you roast it on low heat. Roasting on high heat may burn the seviyan. We will roast until it becomes evenly brown in color
- Seviyan turns brown in color on low heat in about 5 mins. Remove from pan. Dry nuts and Seviyan are roasted and ready. Let's check the milk
- Milk has been simmering on low heat for about 12 mins. Its quantity has reduced now and it has thickened (almost ¾th). Add Sugar and simmer for another 2 mins so that sugar gets dissolved
- Now, add dry nuts, raisins and seviyan. Mix well and cook for few mins on low heat.
- We have cooked Sheer Khurma for about 5 mins. This is the right consistency. It must not get too thick. Add coarsely grounded cardamom powder and saffron strands. Mix well and simmer for a min
- Add Kewra water (Screw Pine water). Switch off the heat and keep Sheer Khurma covered
Click to watch recipe video
This is my new favorite dessert! Awesome recipe.
Hey Chyenne ,thanks for stopping by and posting your invaluable comment ! Love to read that you liked the dessert !Do try and let us know your feedback ! Happy reading, enjoy cooking!